The landscapes of Vietnam are diverse and rich in flora and fauna. This hotspot of plant diversity has a vast array of species inhabiting snow covered mountains in the north, fertile valleys below the Central Highlands and the tropical Mekong Delta in the south.

The mountainous Ha Giang province is home to many species found nowhere else on the planet. Endemic Magnolias, Rhododendrons and conifers are increasingly rare and exist in small isolated groups. These rarities are vulnerable due to many ecological pressures such as habitat loss and climate change. Conservation action is urgently needed to prevent these species from becoming extinct.

The National Botanic Garden of Wales aims to help. Working in collaboration with other UK-based botanic gardens and local partners, the Garden will partake in an expedition to the region later this year. Conservation assessments and the sustainable collection of seeds will support the development of an ex situ collection at the Garden.

Expeditions such as these are vital to support global plant conservation efforts. The collaboration between the UK and Vietnam provides much needed support, matching expertise and facilities to a diverse region with few botanical institutions. The project has already been generously supported by the Royal Horticultural Society and Spencer Environmental Care but the Garden needs your help to further assist the expedition. By donating you'll be sponsoring Will Ritchie's participation in the trip. Seeds collected during the expedition will be grown by the Horticulture team and the collection will be added to Woods of the World for visitors to admire and enjoy.

"Donations are gratefully received as they help us to carry out vital work to support plant conservation, research and education. The Gardens charitable objectives aim to not only protect our plants here in Wales but to think globally. The loss of biodiversity affects us all, so I'm delighted to be working with our partners in Vietnam to help document and conserve their flora." Will Ritchie, Curator